Chapter 177: Hold On, Imperial Advisor! I, the Emperor, Have Recovered 14

Chapter 177: Hold On, Imperial Preceptor! I'm Fully Recovered! 14

At this point, Lin Huaiqing was basically certain that Xiao Xuan seemed terrified of him getting close, judging by his behavior.

It wasn't the usual awe subjects showed their emperor, but the deepest fear buried in his heart after enduring abuse.

But why would that be? And those marks on his body—could they all have been left by the original host?

If that were truly the case, why didn't he have this memory when he inherited the original host's memories?

Seeing how terrified Xiao Xuan was, he figured he wouldn't get any answers, so Lin Huaiqing could only order him to go rest.

Upon receiving the order, Xiao Xuan disappeared even faster than Qin Hanyue, vanishing from his sight in an instant.

Just how hated was he?

He needed to have a serious talk with the system. What exactly was it hiding?

"Ding-dong! Dear host, what trouble have you run into? This system can help you solve anything!" The system popped up with a warm greeting right away.

"Oh? Can you solve any problem? Then can you help me get rid of Qin Hanyue?"

"That would, of course... not be possible. Just tell me what you need. What's the problem?"

"Why is my memory of Xiao Xuan incomplete? It's like something's missing, and that's why he's so scared of me?"

All the signs just now proved there was definitely something between the original host and Xiao Xuan, but after inheriting the original host's memories, this particular part was somehow missing.

It was probably the system's doing.

"Got it. Let me check. Running memory scan..."

"Found it, host. There is indeed a related memory sealed by the main system. I'm trying to access the permissions now."

"Why is this such a hassle? Why was it locked?"

About the time it takes to burn an incense stick passed, and the system still hadn't responded, stuck on "accessing permissions."

Seeing that it was almost time for the morning court again, Lin Huaiqing was getting antsy.

"Got it!"

"There is indeed a separate memory involving the original host and Xiao Xuan, but because its content is too explosive, it's been locked behind higher-level permissions. None of your previous hosts ever discovered this, so no one ever requested access, and the memory got overlooked. Host, you're really something—you actually found this hidden side quest!"

Getting praised by the system for the first time, Lin Huaiqing felt a bit embarrassed.

But he couldn't exactly tell the system the truth—that he'd inexplicably gone to tease Xiao Xuan and stumbled onto it by accident, right?

It seemed everyone who came to this world before him was straight, so none of them ever noticed this.

Hey! Wait! He was straight too! He just cared about his subordinates' physical and mental well-being, that's all!

"Then hurry up and unlock it for me! I want to know what explosive thing happened between the original host and Xiao Xuan."

"Due to content... reasons, I can't share the memory directly with you. But I can see it, so once I finish reading it, I'll tell you all about it."

By the time the system finished reading the missing memory, Lin Huaiqing had just returned from the morning court.

At court, Zhao Ge was his usual self, acting as if he knew nothing about sending assassins to kill him last night.

He even earnestly urged him to bed the new concubine candidates and produce heirs for the royal family soon.

Ha, what a phony.

Once he reached the Golden Core stage, Zhao Ge would be the first one he'd kill.

"Host! I've figured it out. The thing between Xiao Xuan and the original host is a bit complicated. Let me explain."

Ever since the Seventh Prince came of age, the Late Emperor gave him the shadow guard Xiao Xuan as a gift. The Seventh Prince soon discovered that this shadow guard was not only exceptionally handsome and gentle, but also obeyed his every word and protected him without hesitation.

Gradually, the Seventh Prince, who had grown up starved of affection, became increasingly attentive to his shadow guard Xiao Xuan, often having him eat and sleep beside him, letting him guard him up close.

Perhaps it was this special treatment that made Xiao Xuan, who had also been starved of affection and care in his youth, develop feelings for his master that went beyond the master-servant bond.

Originally, these feelings would never have seen the light of day, because even though the Seventh Prince wasn't valued by the Late Emperor, he was still a lofty prince.

And Xiao Xuan was just a shadow guard trained by the royal family since childhood. Ever since the Late Emperor sent him to the Seventh Prince's side, his only purpose in life was to protect the prince and die before him.

But the bitter flower that secretly bloomed in the dark corner wouldn't wither so easily.

Xiao Xuan, who strictly kept to his duties as a shadow guard, finally couldn't contain himself one day and secretly hid a piece of the Seventh Prince's worn clothing.

As luck would have it, the Seventh Prince happened to catch Xiao Xuan pleasuring himself with his clothes. This ugly scene exploded like a bomb right in front of the Seventh Prince's eyes.

Having grown up deep in the palace, and feeling inferior because of his own secret, he'd rejected all the women who showed interest in him and kept himself pure.

When he witnessed such a shocking scene, his first feeling was disgust—pure disgust. Even looking at Xiao Xuan's mortified, terrified face made him nauseous.

After all, he was a prince, and being coveted by a lowly shadow guard made him extremely displeased.

From then on, although the Seventh Prince didn't explicitly punish Xiao Xuan, his attitude toward him did a complete one-eighty.

Unless there was danger or he was summoned, Xiao Xuan wasn't allowed to appear before him.

Even with the tasks he assigned Xiao Xuan—if Xiao Xuan's work displeased him even slightly, he'd punish him even more severely.

As for what kind of punishment that was, Lin Huaiqing had already witnessed it firsthand.

After listening to the system's account, Lin Huaiqing let out a long sigh.

"This Xiao Xuan is truly loyal. Even though the original host treated him that way, in the end, he still died protecting the original host, falling to Qin Hanyue's sword."

"That's roughly the plot. It's not related to the main storyline, so even sealing this segment had no real impact."

That was true enough, but he wasn't the original host. He couldn't be that ruthless. Xiao Xuan was someone worth trusting, and he would treat him well and not let the tragedy happen again.

"Thank you, system. But now I have another favor to ask. Don't forget—you still owe me something, right?"

Back in the world of his archrival, he had completed the task the system assigned him to help the female lead escape, so the system had promised to exchange it for a reward.

One he could use in other worlds.

He wouldn't forget such a good deal.

"Of course I remember. Do you want to redeem it now?"

"Please exchange it for a golden finger to use in this world—give me a powerful spiritual root, talent, and an extraordinary cultivation speed."

He wanted to grow stronger! He wanted to cultivate immortality. Even if he couldn't surpass Qin Hanyue, he would resist Zhao Ge's repeated assassination attempts and schemes.

Relying solely on Qin Hanyue and Xiao Xuan to protect him was not a long-term solution in the end.

Just wait—he would make those who coveted his throne and his life pay a heavy price!